Ryan Leaf, the second overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, is sounding off about the league's handling of mental health issues among players.
Leaf took to social media late on Monday to issue an emotional and profane rant about what he characterized as the league's callous indifference to players suffering with mental health and substance abuse.
"I don't know what the fuck to do anymore," Leaf said, apparently fighting back tears. "My NFL brothers continue to die, and nobody's doing a goddamn thing about it."
It's unclear if Leaf was referring to any specific incident. On Monday, police in Florida announced they were investigating after 38-year-old former Chargers and Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was found dead in a hotel.
Leaf, who struggled with substance abuse and legal woes following his brief and disappointing playing career, claimed he had recently spoken with a player who had been in a "psych ward."
"I talked to another brother -- he spent the weekend in a psych ward -- today," Leaf said. "The NFL just doesn't fucking care. They don't care. I mean, they'll write condolence letters and shit like that, but if they were invested, they'd actually put some money into the Legends Community, and into the mental health and substance abuse side of it."
Leaf, now doing NFL and college football analysis, has called on the NFL to implement more progressive approaches to handling mental health and substance abuse since his last brush with law, in 2014.
The league disposes of those it deems to be "bad for the brand," the former quarterback claimed.
"Once you're bad for the brand, the Shield -- they couldn't give two shits.
"I don't know what the hell to do. They don't get how precious life is. And then I have this fucking survivors' guilt on top of it."
Leaf, now 44, closed with a plea.
"Just be part of the solution, please."
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